Heat-exchanging mechanism



Nov. 22, 1927.

L. R. STOWE HEAT EXCHANGING MEcHANIsM Nov. 22, 1927.

1,650,242 L. R. STOWE HEAT EXCHANGING MECHANISM l Filed Feb. 9 1924 2 siens-snee: 2

Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LoYn n. strewn, or snLoUrs, MIssoUnr.

HEAT-EXCHANGING MEGHANISM.

Appiicauon fried February 9, V1924. 'serial No. 691,614.

- vide mechanical means for moving the two masses of between which the heat is cX- changed; to combine the gas d 1iving means with the heat exchanger in one piece of apparatus so as vto conserve soace and materials; to so arrange this apparatus that there will be the minimum number of changes in direction of iiow of the gases, thus reducing the amount of power to a minimum which will be required for moving the gases through the apparatus; to produce an improved means for feeding the gas through the apparatus; to produce a mechanism whereby the heat in the space which surrounds the heat producing mechanism and which is ordinarily wasted may be utilized to therfullest extent; to provide in an apparatus of the' character described means for removing from the moving gases certain particles of solid materials; to provide means whereby the interior of the apparatus may be cleaned; to improve generally Y upon apparatus of the character stated; and

such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will hereafter more fully appear, and are inherent in the structure disclosed. k Y p c My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and, while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire the same to be understood as illustrative only and notA as limiting said invention. ln the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevationv of what l now consider a preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Referring vto the annexed drawings in which one application of this heat exchanger in connection with steam boilers is illustrated, 1 denotes the heat producing apparatus, 2 designates the pipe by means. of which the products o-f combustion are carried away from the heat producing apparatus and 3 the pipe or pipes by means of which preheated air is carried to the space in connection with the firebox, through which air is supplied to the fire to support combustion. 4 is a balcony floor or the like above the heat producing apparatus and through this floor are certain openings for the passage of the pipes 2 and 3 andthe passage of air from the space surrounding the heat producing apparatus 1. Uponthe floorl is mounted a casing comprising a pair of `chambers 5 and 6, through a portion of the latterof which extends an annular discharge opening 7 communicating at one end with the chamber 5 and at its'opposite end with the smoke stack 8. Passingthrough thev chambers 5l and ,6 is a rotating shaft 9 supported at its ends, or wherever most convenient, by standards 10. This shaft is rotated by any suitable connection 11 to any desired motive means 12 such as a motor. Carried by the shaft 9 are two fiuid moving means 13 and 14, mounted respectively in the chambers 5 and. f .Y f i The lat-eral wall 15 ofthe chamber 5 is frusto-conical in form. The wall of the chamber 5 may be made'intef'rral with that of chamber 6 and with pipe 2,' if desired, or may be made in readilydetachable sections, if preferred. It is at present considered preferable not to have this 'chamber integral with the other chamber but to have at least certain parts thereof removable for ready access to the fan 13. At the lower side of this casing there is a downwardly extending discharge opening 17 which dips into a fluid contained in receptacle 18. Ordinarily water will be kept in this receptacle to form a waterA seal for the vdischarge opening 17. This water will ordinarily prevent any of the gases flowing through the chamber 5 from being forced outwardly through the opening 17, but will permit solid matters accumulating in the chamber 5 to drop downwardly into the pan 18. If these particles should happen to behot cinders or even live coals, they will be cooled and quenched by the water in the pan 18,y thus obviating any danger from this source. Naturally, the pan 18 will be preferably made removable so that any accumulation of solid matter in thepan maybe removed. The tendency of the frusto-conical wall 15 is to cause th-e gases-thrown outwardly by the fan 13vto thrust forwardly toward the' annular dis- Cal eil)

the gases coming from the chamber I from following acourse along the shaft 9 intoY the chamber G, while a similar bearing 2O prevents gases passing along the shaft 9 between the chamber 6 and smoke stack 8. t will be seen by examination of the drawings that the annular discharge opening 7 di 7ides a portion of the chamber 6 into an outer portion through which heated gases are caused to move and an' inner portion in which the fan la rotates to force these gases outwardly. Access between the inner and outer portions is by means of a large number of small tubular openings of any desired shape but preferably cylindrical, these channels being formed by securing tubes 2l in openings in the walls of the annular discharge opening. A wall 22 divides the chamber 5 into two parts 23 and 2st. Heated air from the boiler room will rise and pass through the opening 25 and the opening 26 surrounding the pipe 2 into the chamber above the balcony floor and from this space will be drawn through the openings of the tubes 21 into the space 24C. From here the heated air moves forwardly through the portion 23 ofthe chamber G and out through the tubes 2l again into the outer portion of this chamber, then passing through the pipe 8 to the combustion chamber as heretofore explained. It vwill be observed from the foregoing that the hot gases passing through the pipe 2 enter the annular discharge chamber 7 and are Gradually cooled down as they advance therethrough toward the stack 8. Entering warmed air will first pass through the tubes farthest from the pipe 2 `which are the cooler tubes and will then pass through the tubes nearer to the pipe 2 thus being heated to their highest temperature, just before being passed into the combustion chamber.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a large portion of the heat in the gases of combustion which has heretofore been wasted will now be utilized in raising the temperature of the air which is used to support combustion in the furnace. This reduces the amount of heat required to raise this air to the point of combustion, thus saving in the amount of fuel consumed. Also, a large number of small tubes will get a larfver proportion ofv the air in contact with the heated surface than will a smaller. number of larger tubes. Because ofthe fact that the air passing through these tubes is substantially free of material which would soil and clog them, they cari be made smaller than they could if gases carrying a large amount of soot were to be passed therethrough. In this way a larger percentage Leads/ia of the air to be heated is brought into contact with the heat transferring surface.

Ine tubes 21 can be arranged in rows or staggered, as desired, vbut it is, for some reasons, considered preferable to have them arranged in rows. or example, by having openings in the front end of the apparatus, which openings are covered by removable closure members 28, it will be possibleI by means of a hand lance or similar dust blowing arrangement, to blow out of thel annular discharge opening a large portion of the dust and dirt which may accumulate therein between the tubes 2l, the plates or doors 28 being removed for this purpose. If vdesired, the end carrying the doors 28 may be removableI for access to t-he interior of the structure. Also, the frusto-conical wall 29 may be removably connected inl place, the particular means for securing removability being' immaterial. There is also provided around the stack 8 an upstanding wall 30 the upper end of which is covered by a member 3l having a downwardly dependingV iiL provided with an interior air chamber, means to circulate heated gases through said asing from one end to the other thereof, air ducts extending transversely of the .direction of flow of said gases, the ducts adjacent the discharge end of said casing being in communication with the exterior thereof and constructed andarranged to supply air to said chamber, a tapered wall located in said chamber and arranged to deflect the incoming air toward the opposite end of said casing.

2. A. preheater comprising an annular casing, said casing: being provided with an interior air chamber, means to circulate heated gases through said annular casing from one end toward the other, transverse ducts extending through said annular casing and communicating with said air chamber, a

partition separating said ducts into Sets and.

a wall surrounding the outer ends of a portion of said ducts and spaced therefrom to provide a supplemental chamber, ducts leading from said supplemental chamber to con- Vey heated air therefrom. v

3. .in appa. 1atus of the character indicated, a casing?,` having a plurality ofl Vcompartments therein, a fuel burning installation,

a duct leading from said installation to one of the compartments, a duct leading from another' of said compartments to said installation, an annular discharge outlet from the first compartment extending thr ugh said other compartment, and narrow tubular passages extending through the Walls of the lannular discharge outletfto carry gases through said outlet Without commingling With the gases carried thereby.

4. In apparatus of' the character indicated,a casing having a plurality of compartments therein, a fuel burning installation, a duct leading from said installation to one of the compartments, a duct leading from another of said compartments to said installation, an annular dischargel outlet from the first compartment extending through said other compartment, and narrow tubular passages extending through the Walls of the annular discharge outlet to carry gases through saidv out-let Without commingling With the gases carried0 thereby, the first compartment having a frusto-conical lateral Wall, the larger end of which surrounds the said annular discharge outlet.

5. In apparatus of the character indicated, a casing having a plurality of compartments therein, a fuel burning installation, a duct leading from said installation to one of the compartments, a ductleading from anotherof said compartments to said installation, an annular discharge outlet from the first compartment extending through said other compartment, narrow tubular passagesl extending through the Walls of the annular discharge outlet to carry gases through said outlet Without commingling With the gases carried thereby, the first compartment having a frusto-conical lateral Wall, the larger end of which surrounds the said annular discharge outlet, and an impeller forcing gases againstl said frusto-conical Wall and through said annular discharge outlet.

6. In apparatus of the character indicated, a casing having a plurality of compartments therein, a fuel burning installation, a duct leading from said installation to one of the compartments, a duct leading from another of said compartments to said installation, an annular .discharge outlet from the first compartment extending through said other compartment, the first, compartment having a frusto-conical lateral `Wall, the larger end of which surrounds the said annular discharge outlet, and an impeller forcing gases against said frusto-conical wall and through said annular discharge outlet.

7. In apparatus of the character indicated, a casing having a plurality of compartments therein, a fuel burning installation, a duct leading from said installation to one of the compartments, a duct leading from another of said compartments to said installation, an annular discharge outlet from the first compartment extending through said other compartment, means for carrying olf gases discharged through the annular discharge outlet, narrow tubularppassages extending through the Walls of the annular discharge outlet to carry` gases through said outlet Without commingling lwithvthe gases carried thereby, the first compartment having a frusto-conical lateral Wall, the larger end of which surrounds the said annular discharge outlet, and an impeller forcing gases against said frusto-conical Wall and through said annular discharge outlet.

'8.,In apparatus of the character indicated, a casing having a plurality of compartments therein, an annular discharge outlet from one compartment extending through another of said compartments, the first compartment having a frusto-conical lateral Wall, the larger end 'of Which surrounds the said annular discharge outlet, and an impeller forcing gases against said frusto-conioutlet.

9. In apparatus of the character indicated, a casing having a plurality of compartments therein, an annular discharge outlet from one compartment extending through theV other compartment, the first compartment having Ia frusto-conical lateral Walll *cal Wall and through said annular discharge f containing pan into which said last men-V tioned opening extends.

10. In apparatus of the character indicated, a casing having a plurality of compartments therein, an annular discharge outlet from one compartment extending through the other compartment and narrow tubular passages extending through the walls of the annular discharge outlet to carry gases through said outlet Without commingling With the gases carried thereby, said annular discharge outlet extending beyond the compartments and having, both rinside and outside the casing, tubular channels connecting the Walls of the said annular discharge out-v let.

11. In apparatus of the character indicated, a casing having a plurality of compartments therein, an annular' discharge outlet from one compartment extending through the other ,compartment and beyond the same and having, both inside and outside the casing, tubular channels extending through the Walls of the annular discharge outlet and connecting the space outside of the annular discharge outlet withy that inside thereof, said channels carrying gases through said out-let Without commingling With-the gases carried thereby.

12. In appa at-us of the character indicated, a casing having a plurality of compartments therein, an annular discharge outlet from one compartment extending through the other compartment and beyond the same and having, both inside and outside the casing, tubular channels extending through the walls of the annular discharge outlet and connecting the space outside of the annular discharge outlet with that inside thereof, and impellers located in the two compartiments to actuate fiuids through the annular discharge outlet and the tubular channels, said fiuids passing transversely of each other without commingling.

13. ln apparatus of the character indicated, a casing having` a plurality of compartments therein, an annular discharge outlet from one compartment extending through the other compartment and beyond the same and having, both inside and outside the casing, tubular channels extending through the walls of the annular discharge outlet and connecting the space outside of the annular discharge outlet with that inside thereof, impellers located in the two compartments to actuate fluids through the annular discharge outlet and the tubular channels, one of the compartments having an opening extending downwardly from its lower portion anda. water seal into which said opening dips.

le. In apparatus of the characterindicated, a casing having a plurality of compartinents therein, an annularly arranged discharge outlet from one compartment eX- tending through the other compartment, the first compartment having a truste-conical lateral wall, the larger end of which surrounds the said annularly arranged discharge outlet. and an impeller forcing gases against said frusto-conical wall and through said annular-ly arranged discharge outlet,

15. ln apparatus of the character indicated, a casing having a plurality of compartments therein, a discharge outlet from one compartment extending through the other compartment, the first compartment having a truste-conical lateral wall, the larger end of which surrounds the discharge outlet,`and an impeller forcing gases against saidv frustorconical wall and through said discharge outlet. y

16. In apparatus of the character indicated, a casing having a plurality of compartments therein, an annularly arranged discharge outlet from one compartment cxtending through the other compartment, tubular passages extending through the discharge outlet or outlets tocarry gases therethrough without contact between the gases in the tubular ,passages and those in the discharge outlet, the first compartment having a truste-conical lateral wall, the larger end of which surrounds the annular discharge outlet, and an impeller forcing gases against said frusto-conical walland through said annular discharge outlet. Y

17. In apparatus of the character indicated, a casing having` a-vplurality of conr partments therein, anannularly arranged discharge outlet from one compartment eX- tending through the other compartment, tubular passages extending through the' discharge outlet to carry gases therethrough without contact between the same, the iirst compartment( having a trustoconical lateral wall, the larger end of which surrounds the annular discharge outlet,V and an impeller forcing gases against said frustoconical wall and through said annular discharge outlet. Y

18. A preheater comprising a. casing, ducts arranged transif'ersely of saidfcasing, a drive shaft extending into said casing, said shaft being provided with a. fan member constructed and arranged to circulate `r'lue gases or the like longitudinally through said casing, a. second fan mounted on said shaft and constructed and arranged to circulate air through said transversely arrangedducts.

19. A preheater comprising an annular casing with an air chamber formed inte riorly thereof, transverse'ducts extending through said annular casing and coininunieating with said chamber, a drive shaft extending through said air chamber, a fan member carried thereby exteriorly of said chamber arranged to circulate gases through said casing and a fan member mounted' on said shaft in said air chamber to circulate air through said ducts. c

20. ln appara-tus of the character indicated, a casing having a. plurality of compartments therein, a fuel burning installation, a duct leading from said installation to one of the compartments, a. duct leading from another of said compartments to said installation, an annular discharge outlet from the first compartment extending through said other compartment, the first compartment haifing a truste-conical lateral wall, the larger end of which surrounds the said annular discharge outlet, a shaft extending through said compartments land carrying an impeller in each oit' then'i for forcing gases against said t:neto-conical wall and through said annular discharge outlets, respectively.

ln witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name to this specification. Y

LQYD R, STOWE.

transversely llO 

